$30, 9 days, empty fridge

http://www.budgetbytes.com/

Change that skim milk to whole milk. You're going to need that extra dietary fat if you are planning on eating for just $3.33 per day.

Check out potatoes, peanut butter, beans/lentils, pasta, and just about any fruit and veggie at a reasonably priced store.

You can buy a big package of chicken quarters or legs for less than $5 here. Might be worth it... that would last me 5-6 meals.

Otherwise - oatmeal, rice, beans. With chicken and eggs that would be a few meals there. And frozen veggies with whatever you have left.

I'd probably pass on the apples because they're still close to $1 each unless you find a really good sale on them... bananas are cheaper.

I wouldn't buy milk either, but to each their own.

I love ramen noodles (20 cents each!). I only use half the flavor pack and I add 1/3 bag of mixed frozen vegs. and some scrambled egg or chicken for protein.

You could check the dollar store for bread too. Or see if one of your store has a clearance section. Mine always has random bagels and rolls there for like $1 for 6 (plus cheese, deli meat, some prepared food and cut fruit and veggies at 50% off).

"TeaBea wrote: »

Yeast packets (baking aisle....probably top shelf) aren't cheap when sold individually. You have to buy a jar ($5+) to get a good price.

Not in PA. The yeast (packets and jars) are in the refrigerator section.

spacelump wrote: »

I secretly love Ramen too, but they always without fail constipate me to a place of total misery and regret. But! Pasta is a grand idea. Can pasta be healthy?

Pasta is inexpensive and has potassium, iron and protein, all of which are essentials. Pair it with a red sauce (cheap bottled sauce, add spices) and it is very healthy as long as you don't need to restrict carbs for health reasons.

spacelump wrote: »

Alright, you savvy MFP's. I have $30, 9 days til payday, and an empty fridge but for about a pound of chicken and bag of brown rice.

Please share all your frugal meal suggestions for this broke little dieter trying to stay on the fed and healthy path.

I intend to buy skim milk, bananas, some tuna, and eggs. What else might I add as filling staples for meals?

Thank you all in advance!

The cheapest meal that still fulfills nutritional requirements I have come up with:

Boil rice
boil a bag of mixed frozen vegetables
add canned tuna to taste ( I use one can per meal, but it is still tasty with less, but making sure you still have some nutritional value from the tuna )
put in the fridge

scoop out a portion for each meal and either eat it with lime/lemon juice or a bit of mayonnaise as a salad
or heat it up and add a tiny bit of cream, or sprinkle with some cheese
You can also add fresh or dried herbs to the salad and the heated up version.
I aim for at least half rice and half vegetables and often for more vegetables than rice.

I make this often ( logged under " rice bowl " ) because I really like it. I also use canned chicken, or salmon ( which here in Mexico also come in standard tuna size cans and usually have between 87-100 calories ).
I grow my own parsley and cilantro and add copious amount of either to either version to get some crunch, some freshness and vitamins. The visual effect is also nice.

Also the same is also very delicious using any kind of beans ( black, kidney, pinto etc ) mixed with rice and vegetables ( makes an excellent complete protein ! ) with either tuna, or by itself furthermore adding chopped onion, tomato and cucumbers or whatever you like.

I highly recommend this site: http://www.leannebrown.com/. Author, who is highly qualified, gives some good advice and good recipes for living on a tight budget.

I also make " Oatmeal Upma " ( there are 100s of recipes when googling the internet ).

It's a savory/spicy oatmeal dish originally from India.
It's the only way I eat oatmeal, because I don't like sweet things.

Cook oatmeal with salt ( or some broth or vegetable granules) until " al dente " ( or mushy if youprefer.
During the cooking process add chopped vegetables and maybe a chopped potato.
After that some people add black, or white pepper. I add curry powder and some extra cumin. I have also added a spoon of thai curry mix, because that's what I had in the fridge.
When serving I add lime juice and cilantro or parsley, or sometimes a spoon or two of home made plain yogurt.
The oatmeal is also fine with just the broth and the vegetables.
Again, a very nutritional dish that is easy and fast to make and cheap.

I like what is listed, but I'd add a bag of baby carrots ( or regular if it's cheaper where you live) and a bag of some sort of frozen veggies.

Black eyed peas and Lima beans are both easy to make. And potatoes are inexpensive as well. Big 8-10 lb bag will only set you back a $2-3 and you can do a lot with them (baked, boiled, soup, oven fries, etc).

I've got a recipe for sausage veggie soup that runs me about $10 for everything, but it makes this gigantic stock pot of soup if you're interested.

Beans/legumes and rice offer the cheapest base on which to make up some meals. If you have or can score a pressure cooker you can buy dried beans for much less than canned and reconstitute them yourself in quick order; otherwise, do the soak and cook method.

We have bean and rice dishes frequently, with and without meat.

Ham and pea soup; the ham can be pricey though but the rest of the ingredients are cheap.

I make beef stews and soups often in the fall and winter and will add lentils to stretch the soup further and add more nutrition to every bowl (plus I like the taste).

Saute some onion, garlic, add a couple large cans of diced tomatoes and a cup and a half of dried lentils; spice it up any way you like. Serve over rice. Makes enough for several meals. inexpensive.

Don't fear baking bread. It really isn't that hard and the smells... yum. Good workout kneading the dough too.

Finally, do not hesitate to visit your local food bank. They are there to help and you could use a hand right now. They won't be turning someone away because you took their help. My wife volunteers at one and is always surprised when someone expresses a need but doesn't accept their help.